Natural England - Habitat of the month

Habitat of the month

1 December 2011

Throughout 2011 we’re highlighting some of England’s most important natural habitats. This month: Hedgerows

Hedgerows (Dave Key)

Hedges are a defining characteristic of the
English landscape © Dave Key

Hedgerows

The intricate patchwork of fields bounded by hedges is a defining feature of the English landscape. Hedgerows form a huge linear habitat that stretches across much of the country and provides a vital refuge for biodiversity. Some are remnants of ancient woodlands left as boundary markers when land was cleared and may be hundreds or even thousands of years old. Many more hedges were established during the 17th and 18th centuries when agricultural land was enclosed.

The typical English hedge consists of a mix of native plants such as blackthorn, hawthorn, hazel, dogwood and field maple which provide the basic structure. Climbers such as honeysuckle and bramble are also important components.  Many hedgerows also contain significant amounts of dead wood and plant litter, while their bases form an important buffer zone between cultivated land or transport routes.

How much is there?

Data collected for Countryside Survey 2000 indicated that just under 350,000 miles (560,000km) of hedgerows existed in England.

Where do they occur?

Hedges occur throughout England and the British Isles although their form may differ from one region to another. In Central England, hedges typically consist of a wide range of species, while elsewhere they may be dominated by one particular species. For example, on Exmoor hedges are dominated by beech trees; in North Dorset they consist mainly of ash and box; while in Arden they are primarily made up of holly. In Devon, hedgerows are traditionally grown on an earth bank which usually has shrubs planted on the top. It is estimated that Devon contains 33,000 miles of hedgerows, the largest number of any English county.

Why do they matter?

Mature and well managed hedgerows provide habitat for a rich diversity of species. They are thought to support up to 80% of our woodland birds, 50% of our mammals and 30% of our butterflies. Hedges are particularly important for the hazel dormouse, one of England’s rarest mammals, which feeds on the fruits and berries of the main hedge row species throughout the year.

The linear nature of hedges means they can be important for bats moving between roosting sites and feeding areas. The greater and lesser horseshoe, brown long-eared, and Natterer’s bats are all thought to forage on insects living within hedges.

A large number of bird species are associated with hedgerows. Woodland birds such as blue tit, great tit, wren, blackbird, robin and chaffinch are more common in taller, wider hedges. Birds that favour scrubby or open woodland, such as dunnock, yellow hammer and whitethroat, also use hedgerows. The hedge base is important for ground-nesting species like the grey partridge.

Although the value of hedges in agricultural management may have declined since the1950s, their importance for our cultural heritage and for the quality of our landscapes is now more widely recognised.

Issues for the future

During the second half of the 20th Century there was a significant loss of hedgerows in the UK. A survey by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology revealed that between 1984 and 1990 hedgerow length in England declined by 20%. Changes in farming practices, the development of agricultural land, damage caused by straw and stubble burning, neglect and indiscriminate trimming all contributed to this decline. One response to this was the introduction of the Hedgerows Regulations in 1997, which imposed restrictions on the removal of older hedges and those with a diverse species mix.

One of the key factors governing the future survival species rich hedges is the application of appropriate management techniques. This includes hedge laying, through which longer stems are cut and allowed to form a section of dead wood in the heart of the hedge; and coppicing, in which stems are cut and removed from the base to give a new lease of life to seriously damaged hedges. These methods can be labour intensive and require specialist skills.

Grants for the maintenance and establishment of hedges have become widely available in the past 30 years, for example through environmental stewardship funding. It is estimated that these grants now cover 41% of hedgerows in England.

During the 1990’s a period of stability in overall hedgerow length was recorded in England and across the UK. However, the most recent data from the Countryside Survey 2007 indicated that the length of managed hedges declined by 6% across the UK, between 1998 and 2007.

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